The Power of a Merry Heart

I found hope and encouragement when I dug into the meaning of the word "merry" in Proverbs 17:22. I didn't realize that I'd been quoting that verse incorrectly for years. I thought it was "Laughter is like a medicine," but it's not. The accurate translation is: "A merry heart is like a medicine. In Hebrew, that word has a much deeper meaning.

Laughter is a wonderful gift, but you can be laughing and NOT have a merry heart. Who could imagine that people who made it their job to make others laugh often live in the darkness of depression? Comedy is often used to help individuals cope with their sadness. (Robin Williams, Freddie Prinze, Simone Brint, Andrew Koenig, to name just a few).

The Hebrew word for "merry" is sameach (saw-MAY-akh). It does convey a sense of joy and gladness, but a merry heart goes much, much deeper than that. The word sameach is associated with covenant favor and God's blessing.

It describes a state of settled happiness rather than a fleeting amusement. It's a joy that aligns with the character and purposes of the Lord.

Sameach describes a state of settled gladness that springs from a life built on a covenant relationship with Jesus Christ.

A merry heart doesn't come from people. People can be encouraging and discouraging. It isn't built upon our circumstances, which are constantly changing.

A merry heart is a gift of God's grace, which is consistent and long-lasting.

There's nothing about my cancer journey that makes me want to laugh. It's a battle. But I found hope when I dug into the meaning of a merry heart. "A merry heart is like a medicine..." That promise doesn't come from life's circumstances. It doesn't come when my eyes are on myself... how I'm feeling, what's happening, or the latest medical report. It comes when I trust in the covenant I have with Jesus Christ.

Covenants are rarely discussed in American culture. The following story helped me understand the power of a covenant.

The journey of Henry Stanley's expedition to Africa:

In 1869, Henry Stanley was sent on a special assignment to find Dr. David Livingstone, who had disappeared six years earlier during an expedition to Africa. Along the way, Stanley learned some important lessons about blood covenants.

Stanley encountered a hostile tribe in the Congo, which he and his men were in no condition to fight. His interpreter understood the customs and strongly suggested that Stanley enter into a blood covenant with the chieftain.

"Once you become a blood covenant partner, everything that belongs to the chief will be yours if you need it, and everything that belongs to you will become the chief's if he needs it."

Convinced, Stanley and the chief made incisions on their wrists. Drops of blood were dripped into a cup of wine, and they drank. Gunpowder was applied to the wounds, making them permanent marks. (Consider the marks remaining on the wrists of Jesus!)

The next step was the exchange of gifts. The chief wanted Stanley's white goat, and in exchange, gave Stanley his seven-foot spear. At first, Stanley was unhappy because he depended on that goat for his health.

The spear turned out to be much more beneficial than he could have ever imagined. Everywhere he went throughout Africa, when people saw him with the chief's spear, they immediately bowed in honor and respect, because the other tribes understood the power of the covenant. That spear symbolized the chief's authority. No one dared to stand against Stanley because they knew that attacking him would mean dealing with the chief.

What a wonderful picture this story gives us of the power of covenant. As believers in Christ, we are included in the blood covenant between Jesus Christ and the Father. All that He has is ours, and all that we have is His. This is the secret of a merry heart. It's not dependent on us, or people, or circumstances.

When I need courage to walk this cancer journey, I can go to the Father and pray like this: "Lord, thank you that by grace I am in covenant with You through the blood of Jesus Christ. You have the courage I need, Father. Please give me courage ."

I hope this blog accurately expresses the depth of truth behind a merry heart. The realization that we are in covenant with the Creator of Heaven and Earth certainly is the very best medicine.

Healing in God's Hands

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